TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21054, 17 June 1930, Page 11

TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

AMERICAN VIEW.' The American view of the troubles iu hamoa is set out in a recent article in the New York Times/ 'Should power shift to the Pacific, it is pointed out, toe Samoan Islands wifi become important territory. A recent report from Honolulu that New Zealand, weary of troubles with the natives of Samoa, would be glad to reImimish her -mandate and permit the States to consolidate^that area with American Samoa hag been answered *foseph Ward, "who answered that New Zealand would continue control and artick) main^ain ° rin Policy (says the • an ?' aa ® e » New Zealand could not give up hen charge without permission of toe Lieague of Nations, requiring a unanimous vote," he ‘points out: •’ If she formally applied for such permission. it may be that Germany, formerly \in control of ‘the western area, would control bld for tbe Privilege of resuming It f has ’ been charged that Western Samoa has been overrun by minor officials. New Zealand feels that capable and peaceful administration is a matter of and already has spent more than 1,000,000 dollars in attempting to police the western section. .This elaborate policing was madeneccs--BQry by the activities of, a native body, called the Man.-. The members advocated a policy of passive resistance by refusal to pay taxes. Occasionally, howevep. they became actively belligerent, as when, wearing purple uniforms and carrying big sticks, 300 of them patrolled the streets of Apia to prevent Samoans from buying goods in the stores of Europeans. TWO CRUISERS SENT. 1 this' emergency the New Zea-land-Cabinet sent two cruisers ■ to toe mandated territory, but’ toe commanders were instructed not to use force. With toe arrival of the cruisers order was temporarily restored. Two 1 white men, Oiaf -Nelson and -A. 6. Bmytoe, charged with encouraging the Mau in its subversive ao•tivvtiea, were banished to New Zealand. When Smythe returned to Apia there was a fresh outbreak. The-Mau staged a procession of welcome,* included in-which were several members wanted fay the New Zealand police. In a riot which'followed an attempt to arrest these men. High Chief Tamasese, Crown Prince if the old ■ Samoan monarchy, • six native Samoans, and one policemen were killed. The latest pronouncement is that the New Zealand Government has decided; to prepare a .force of military police to send to Samoa with the object of putting a speedy end to the unrest. Some weeks must expire, however, before the force is ready, and the hope was expressed that before then toe troubles may be adjusted. Sir Joseph Ward declared that a complete cessation of the Man’s-activities -was essential. . Strife in Samoa is ho new thing. It existed before Robert Louis Stevenson’s residence there in toe 'eighties. - The generous-hearted Scottish - novelist was drawn into the maelstrom. He firmly, believed that ■ a regulation framed by Sir tJoliD Thurston, Sigh Commissioner for toe Western Pacific, was - aimed at him, and that he was in danger of deportation because, of his friendship for Mataafa, a rival to the _ chief recognised by the Powers. Despite his efforts for peace,-ho had chagrin of seeing civil war' between the followers of the rival chiefs. Stevenson thought that the primary cause strife ’was that the natives had no suitable occupation to divert their minds, and tried to develop such pursuits as cacaogrowing among them. AMERICAN SAMOA QUIET, The United States has had better success in handling the eastern portion under the administration of the Navy Deparlment. The Naval Hospital at Pago Pago looks after-public, health. Due to toe adoption of American practice in hygiene and sanitation, the native population has increased. Native customs are followed wherever possible, the Government seeking to restrict its work to friendly guid- ? nce ‘ the .natives have been taught to read and write. Under the American Commandant-Governor is a native Governor in each of the political divisions. The native Governors appoint the county chiefs, who in turn appoint-village chiefs. Pago Pago is the most valuable harbour in toe South. Pacific. That it may beeoqie still more important is shown by a bint dropped by the American delegates at toe London Naval Conference. Thcv indicated that 'unless Japan abandoned heir demands for 70 per cent: of American big cruisers, toe United States would feel free to fortify Pacific bases after expiration of toe "Washington Treaty, which- forbids such fortification. More than one keen observer of the world s ebb and flow has foreseen a shiftmg of power from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Should this come about, toe Sit* moan Islands would become highly iris portant territory.